Los Alamos National Laboratory

The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has announced that Jeffrey Johnson has been named the Chief of Defense Nuclear Security and Associate Administrator for NNSA’s Office of Defense Nuclear Security effective Tuesday.
In this role, he will be responsible for the development and implementation of security programs for the NNSA.
“Jeffrey brings a wealth of experience to NNSA and is eminently qualified to take on the challenges of his new position,” said DOE Under Secretary for Nuclear Security and NNSA Administrator Frank G. Klotz. “I am pleased he will serve our nation in this new role, and I am confident that he will use his expertise to ensure that the security is maintained at all NNSA facilities.”
Johnson has an extensive security background from his time on active duty and as a civilian Marine, including the protection of nuclear weapons, Navy nuclear propulsion, and other high value assets. Previously he was head of U.S. Marine Corps Civilian Law Enforcement where he was responsible for all aspects of installation policing and security.
Johnson holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology/criminology from Ohio State University and a master’s degree in security and safety leadership from George Washington University.

From 6-8 p.m. today at Fuller Lodge, the Los Alamos Study Group will host a public discussion about the future of the National Nuclear Security Administration’s three big labs: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), and Sandia National Laboratories (SNL).
Everyone is welcome. There is no charge but donations will be gratefully accepted.
The discussion is timed to coincide with the new, congressionally-mandated Commission to Review the Effectiveness of the National Energy Laboratories (CRENEL), which is in the first phase of its review.
CRENEL will evaluate whether the 17 Department of Energy (DOE) labs, including the three NNSA labs, properly address DOE’s priorities and have clear, non-duplicative missions and unique capabilities “for current and future energy and national security challenges.”
CRENEL will evaluate the size of the labs, whether consolidation or realignment are appropriate, whether universities or other technology centers would be better for some of their work, as well as how to improve lab-directed research and development (LDRD).

Nanocomposite oxide ceramics have potential uses as ferroelectrics, fast ion conductors, and nuclear fuels and for storing nuclear waste, generating a great deal of scientific interest on the structure, properties, and applications of these blended materials.
“The interfaces separating the different crystalline regions determine the transport, electrical and radiation properties of the material as a whole,” said Pratik Dholabhai, principal Los Alamos National Laboratory researcher on the project.
“It is in the chemical makeup of these interfaces where we can improve features such as tolerance against radiation damage and fast ion conduction.”

The Los Alamos National Security, LLC Board of Governors has approved $3 million in funding for the company’s plan to support education, economic development and charitable giving in Northern New Mexico.
“This plan demonstrates our bond with the community and its people and businesses that support our national security mission,” laboratory director Charlie McMillan said. “It sustains the mutually beneficial programs that make Los Alamos one of the best places to live and work.”
Los Alamos National Security, LLC since 2006 has been the managing and operating contractor for Los Alamos National Laboratory. Funds approved by the LANS Board of Governors are administered through a Community Commitment Plan managed by Los Alamos’ Community Programs Office.
The LANS Community Commitment Plan has provided more than $28 million to the region since 2007.
For 2015 the plan will provide:
• $1 million for education, including science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education programs
• $1 million for economic development, such as financial and technical assistance to start and grow regional businesses

When this week’s print issue of the journal Science comes out, a collective cheer will go up from New Mexico, Montana and even the Netherlands, thanks to the type of collaborative effort that is more and more the norm in these connected times.
The research will produce innovations in biology, medicine, biotechnology and agriculture. It could save lives, and it happened because this scientist talked with that one, that one knew another one, and they overcame geographic distance to advance human understanding.
“It is tremendously exciting working with researchers around the world, helping them apply the software and algorithms that we have developed to see the inner workings of molecular machines,” said Thomas Terwilliger, a senior Los Alamos scientist and Laboratory Fellow.
In this case, researchers at Montana State University have provided the first blueprint of a bacterium’s “molecular machinery,” showing how bacterial immune systems fight off the viruses that infect them. By tracking down how bacterial defense systems work, the scientists can potentially fight infectious diseases and genetic disorders. The key is a repetitive piece of DNA in the bacterial genome called a CRISPR, for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats.

When this week’s print issue of the journal Science comes out, a collective cheer will go up from New Mexico, Montana and even the Netherlands, thanks to the type of collaborative effort that is more and more the norm in these connected times.
The research will produce innovations in biology, medicine, biotechnology and agriculture. It could save lives, and it happened because this scientist talked with that one, that one knew another one, and they overcame geographic distance to advance human understanding.
“It is tremendously exciting working with researchers around the world, helping them apply the software and algorithms that we have developed to see the inner workings of molecular machines,” said Thomas Terwilliger, a senior Los Alamos scientist and Laboratory Fellow.
In this case, researchers at Montana State University have provided the first blueprint of a bacterium’s “molecular machinery,” showing how bacterial immune systems fight off the viruses that infect them. By tracking down how bacterial defense systems work, the scientists can potentially fight infectious diseases and genetic disorders. The key is a repetitive piece of DNA in the bacterial genome called a CRISPR, for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats.

Los Alamos National Laboratory has successfully fired the latest in a series of experiments at the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS).
“Leda is an integrated experiment that provides important surrogate hydrodynamic materials data in support of the Laboratory’s stewardship of the U. S. nuclear deterrent,” said Bob Webster, Associate Director for Weapons Physics.
The experiment, conducted on Aug. 12, 2014, consisted of a plutonium surrogate material and high explosives to implode a “weapon-relevant geometry,” according to Webster.
Hydrodynamic experiments such as Leda involve non-nuclear surrogate materials that mimic many of the properties of nuclear materials. Hydrodynamics refers to the physics involved when solids, under extreme conditions, begin to mix and flow like liquids. Other hydrodynamic experiments conducted at NNSS use small amounts of nuclear material, and are called “sub-critical” because they do not contain enough material to cause a nuclear explosion.

The Bradbury Science Museum unveils a new interactive exhibit at 4 p.m., Wednesday featuring the rich history and current research into archaeology, wildlife biology, local climate and sustainability efforts at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
“Our role is to support the mission of the laboratory while being good stewards of the environment,” said Jen Payne, a team leader in the laboratory’s Environmental Stewardship Services Group and exhibit curator. “The National Historic Preservation Act requires us to share our knowledge of cultural resources with the public. This new exhibit helps us to do public outreach and provide virtual access to some of the unique archaeological sites situated on laboratory property.”
The exhibit is titled “Environmental Research and Monitoring.” Opening remarks start at 5 p.m., and a talk on the laboratory’s annual Environmental Report is scheduled for 6 p.m. During the evening, two of the Bradbury’s Scientist Ambassadors will be “Scientists in the Spotlight,” with engaging face-to-face materials prompting conversations about fresh water and sea ice. Attendees also can play the “Thirst for Power” game that explores the nexus of energy, water and climate.

A settlement has been reached in the district court case involving a Los Alamos couple against Anthony Stanford, a former Emergency Operations division leader, and Los Alamos National Security, LLC, according to the couple’s attorney John Day on Monday.
“We can’t discuss the terms,” Day said. “The lab asked to keep it confidential. The Gormans are incredibly happy with the result and are happy it’s over. They are looking forward to continuing their successful careers at the lab.”
The lab said in a statement, “the laboratory is pleased that the matter has been settled. Terms of the settlement are being kept private. And, due to employee privacy, we do not discuss specific personnel actions.”
Stanford retired with full benefits in 2013 from the lab before criminal charges were filed.
The Gormans decided to file a civil complaint after it was determined that the most Stanford would face if convicted of the assault and battery charge would be probation, according to Day in an earlier article in the Los Alamos Monitor.

The Defense Nuclear Facility Safety Board recently sent a letter to NNSA administrator Frank Klotz, commemorating his 100 days in office.
But that was not the main thrust of the letter.
Also included was a rundown of each of the NNSA sites. And DNFSB chair Peter Winokur had plenty to say about the Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Front and center was the Plutonium Facility.
“The board draws your attention to the Plutonium Facility at Los Alamos National Laboratory, which analysis shows may be vulnerable to collapse as a consequence of a design basis seismic earthquake, and the many challenges brought on by aging infrastructure across the nuclear weapons complex,” Winokur wrote.
Here are the highlights on Los Alamos provided by the DNFSB to Klotz:
• Continued dialogue with NNSA is necessary to fully resolve issues regarding adequate protection of public health and safety in the event of an earthquake affecting LANL’s Plutonium Facility (PF-4). The design basis seismic accident scenario for PF-4 results in unacceptably large offsite dose consequences to the public.